In France, former NBA guard Tim Frazier embraces the overseas experience

USA Basketball star forward Anthony Davis had a long conversation with his old New Orleans Pelicans teammate Tim Frazier recently at a wedding in Memphis, Tennessee. The talk had nothing to do with basketball or New Orleans. Rather, the subject was Paris as Davis will soon be there with his family for the 2024 Olympics just months after Frazier played professionally there.

“He and his wife were asking, ‘Hey, what should we do when we get out there?’ ” Frazier said during a recent phone interview with Andscape. “And I said, ‘Hey, man, it’s going to be crazy-packed. But if you can, obviously you see the main stuff. See the Louvre. See the Eiffel Tower and experience that with the kids. And there are so many great restaurants out there to choose, so when you get out there, just let me know.’

“We all know what to do when we go to Paris, for the most part. But I gave them a couple of restaurants. But I think obviously you hit the most touristy spots … He knew I was out there in Paris. And I said, ‘Man, just try to experience as much as you can.’ Paris was already busy when I was living there. So, I know it was going to be busy during the Olympics.”

Frazier averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing in 289 games as a journeyman guard in the NBA over eight seasons. The Houston native suited up for the Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2015 NBA G League MVP last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season.

In search of more playing time and adventure, Frazier began playing in Europe during the 2022-23 season in Greece for AEK Athens. His next two stops in Europe were in France with SIG Strasbourg and Greece with Prometheus Patras. And on Jan. 29, Frazier returned to action after being sidelined with a foot injury. He signed with Paris Metropolitans 92, the former team of San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama. The only other time Frazier had been to Paris was when he played in a European tour in college for Penn State.

“It’s been great. I’ve embraced the experience of going overseas,” Frazier said. “Obviously, it’s nothing like the NBA. But France is, as far as living in Strasbourg and living in Paris, that was some of the best you can get in France outside of living in the South of France, Monaco, Nice and places like that. But I’ve had a great experience where I saw two different things. Strasbourg is very slow-paced because it’s on the border of Germany. And Paris is just fast-paced.

“The traffic is bad in Paris. There are so many people there. It is a tourist town as well. But it’s the closest thing you can get to the States as far as shopping goes and meals. There is Americanized food as well.”

The Metropolitans 92 made it to the 2023 French Pro Finals after a 23-11 regular-season record with Wembanyama and now-Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly. The Metropolitans 92, however, had a 3-18 record in the French Pro A league when they signed Frazier. While the record was poor, the hope was that Frazier could help the franchise stave off relegation to the second division.

In 13 games for Metropolitans 92, Frazier averaged 11.1 points and 6.1 assists in 28.3 minutes. The Metropolitans 92 finished the regular season with a league-worst 4-30 record and were relegated to the second division.

“I was coming off of injury and at the time I wanted to get out there and play,” Frazier, 33, said. “There were a couple teams that had reached out. Paris was one of them and I jumped on the opportunity to stay, to live in Paris. Obviously, I knew about the team because I had played in Strasbourg last year. I knew Wembanyama was on the team. I know how well they did last [season].

“They weren’t doing as well this [season]. But I jumped on the opportunity to be able to play and be a focal point. I’d be living in Paris. And I think a lot of it for me was just to showcase that I was healthy from the injury that I had in Strasbourg. It was a great time, especially for me getting to play basketballwise. We wanted to win more games, but I was able to experience a different culture.”

Frazier started hearing that Metropolitans 92 could fold due to financial issues and French media articles supported those rumors. The rumors rang true as Metropolitans 92 folded due to financial difficulties in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt that the team had resided in for 17 seasons. In a statement, Boulogne-Billancourt Mayor Pierre-Christophe Baguet said, “these painful decisions are unfortunately imposed on us,” and also noted the financial support in recent years.

“There was some chatter about it before that last game,” Frazier said. “And then when the news came out, I started getting all these calls. They saw Wembanyama the [season] before. From there it’s like, ‘Oh, man, the team has decide to fold. Is it a money issue?’ I had a French teammate translate a lot of the stories. They were just saying it wasn’t a money issue, but the mayor of the town didn’t want to fund the team anymore.”

Despite the financial concerns, Frazier said, the Metropolitans 92 gave him a three-bedroom apartment in Paris, a Peugeot car to use and paid on time. He told Davis that his favorite restaurants in Paris were Beef Cut Restaurant, Beefbar and Verde. Frazier also told Davis’ wife, Marlen Polanco Davis, that the exchange rate in Paris works to an American’s advantage and there is a tax credit for purchases upon departure from France. Although Frazier doesn’t speak French, he said, he was able to get by because most people in Paris speak English.

“A lot of times they didn’t speak English until it was time for the bill,” Frazier said with a laugh.

The Metropolitans 92 played their last game on May 11. Frazier, who was in France alone, stayed in Paris for four more days after the season to enjoy the City of Lights before leaving for Houston. He added that Paris was his favorite city in France and described his final days as “joy.”

“I spent time at the Louvre, where you can get to the museum,” Frazier said. “I went to the Palace of Versailles, the garden [The Jardin du Luxembourg]. I touched up on the history of the city and did some shopping, too. I experienced some of the nightlife. I just used that experience as, ‘I’m done. Let’s see what all Paris has to offer.’ I spent a lot of time walking, which was one of the best things I did.

“I drove in, parked by the Eiffel Tower and I just walked. I walked alongside the Seine River. It was beautiful. At that time, it wasn’t raining. It was nice out. People were taking pictures. It was cool to experience the region. You sit outside. Go to a coffee shop. That was my joy those four days.”

So, what’s next for Frazier?

“I’m still waiting to figure it out,” Frazier said. “I’m not calling it a career yet. I’ve been blessed. I’ve played in Greece and France. I’d love to go back to Paris and play for another team in France. But I definitely want to try to experience something else different as well.

“I was thinking maybe Italy. I would love to go out there to experience something nice and to live out there as well.”